United States challenger American Magic had its first loss but stayed atop the leaderboard after the second day of racing Friday in the America’s Cup World Series off Auckland.
American Magic, backed by the New York Yacht Club, won one and lost one of its two tight races against Italy’s Luna Rossa, ending the day with a 3-1 record.
The most aggressive racing of the series so far saw four penalties dispensed — three against Luna Rossa and one against American Magic — for rule breaches in pre-start maneuvering.
American Magic, the U.S. entry for the America's Cup yachting regatta practices on the harbor in Auckland, New Zealand, on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. American Magic is one of three challengers from the United States, Italy and Britain which will emerge to race defender Team New Zealand for the America's Cup in the 36th regatta in March. (Dean PurcellNew Zealand Herald via AP)
Defender Team New Zealand, which lost to American Magic in the second of two races on day one, joined the United States team at the top of the leaderboard with back-to-back wins over Britain’s INEOS Team UK.
The British team had a much better day Friday than on a disastrous opening day when it battled major equipment malfunctions and was forced to retire from its second race.
Earlier Friday, helmsman Ben Ainslee blamed a system supplied by defender Team New Zealand for the technical problems which hampered his British team in the lead-up to sailing’s America’s Cup.
INEOS Team UK had breakdowns in both of its races Thursday on the first day of the World Series and was forced to withdraw from the second race when a battery failure left the yacht Britannia dead in the water.
There was doubt it would be able to race Friday, but after overnight repairs, it headed to racecourse early to work out any lingering problems. Team UK completed both races against Team New Zealand, losing by margins of 1 minute, 32 seconds in the first race and 1:42 in the second.
But they showed an ability to compete when mechanical issues don’t intrude. In the second race of the day Ainslee pulled off a brilliant start move, leaving the New Zealand boat off its foils and gaining an early lead of almost 400 meters.
Team New Zealand regained the lead on the first downwind leg and showed better boat speed but the British team was happy with its day.
“It was much better than yesterday,” Ainslee said. “At least we got around the course, everything was working as it should and the guys did a really good job.”
The day was peppered by dramatic incidents. In the first race, Luna Rossa incurred a penalty for entering the start box early and was forced to allow American Magic at least a two-boat-length lead off the line.
The American crew had their hearts in their mouths when they put in a bad tack on the first beat, taking too long to lift the windward foil arm and causing the yacht Patriot to heel over dangerously.
Luna Rossa took the lead held narrow advantages for the rest of the race, winning by 12 seconds.
New Zealand had two nervous moments in its first race against Team UK. It came too close to the top mark after the first leg and at the bottom mark, the New Zealand boat Te Rehutai reared up on its foils, then crashed back after a jibing error.
“We made a bit of mistake and made life hard for ourselves,” New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling said.
The pre-start of the second race between American Magic and Luna Rossa was full of action. The Italian team again was early into the box but offset that penalty when it gained right of way and luffed its rival.
American Magic helmsman Dean Barker then trapped Luna Rossa’s James Spithill in a right of way incident which saw another penalty against the Italian team.
Thursday’s variable wind conditions gave an early indication of the tricky conditions teams likely will encounter when America’s Cup racing begins officially next year. The World Series is not part of the Cup regatta which begins with a series in January and February to find the top challenger.
The World Series will be the only warmup regatta prior to the start of the 36th America’s Cup in January. The Prada Cup for challengers will run Jan. 15 to Feb. 22, with the winner advancing to face Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup match March 6-21.
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talked to his team about being prepared to bleed as New England entered its first playoff game since the 2021 season.
Then, shortly after Milton Williams sacked the Chargers' Justin Herbert on Sunday night to secure the Patriots' first playoff victory in seven years, Williams celebrated with a head-butt of Vrabel.
It knocked the first-year coach backward and bloodied his lip.
“The big dogs come out in January. I think Milt took that to heart,” Vrabel said. “He came over and got me pretty good. But that’s what happens.”
Drake Maye threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter, and New England's defense roughed up Herbert as the Patriots beat Los Angeles 16-3 in an AFC wild-card playoff game.
Andy Borregales kicked three field goals for the Patriots (15-3), who hadn't won in the postseason since their Super Bowl victory to cap the 2018 season. They’ll host the winner of Monday night’s game between Pittsburgh and Houston in the divisional round.
In his playoff debut, Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and ran for a team-high 66 yards.
“We made plays when we had to do it,” Maye said.
He also threw an interception and lost a fumble, but the Chargers (11-7) couldn't capitalize on those turnovers.
New England held Los Angeles to 207 yards of offense and sacked Herbert six times, with one of those resulting in a lost fumble that set up the Patriots' TD.
“It's on us, what we do. I've been saying that all season,” Williams said. “We can control the game. If we do what we need to do up front, we're going to win.”
This is the second straight season in which the Chargers have lost in the wild-card round. Herbert finished 19 of 31 for 159 yards and was his team's leading rusher with 57 yards as he fell to 0-3 in the playoffs.
Herbert was just over a month removed from surgery to repair a broken bone in his nonthrowing hand.
“There was no issue,” Herbert said. “I just have to do a better job holding on to the ball.”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said his quarterback wasn't 100 percent.
“He’s a warrior. He just gives it everything he has, all the time,” Harbaugh said, acknowledging that Herbert was limited by his hand injury. “It’s an issue, but he doesn’t flinch, like a warrior would.”
The last time the Chargers failed to score a TD in the playoffs was their 21-12 AFC championship game loss to the Patriots during the 2007 season.
The Patriots drove into the red zone on their first possession of the third quarter, but the drive ended when Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh and De'Shawn Hand recovered for the Chargers.
After Los Angeles punted, Maye connected on a pass to Kayshon Boutte that went for 42 yards to set the Patriots up on the Chargers 27. But New England settled for a 39-yard field goal that stretched their lead to 9-3.
Early in the fourth quarter, Maye used a 16-yard pass to Boutte and a 13-yard burst by Rhamondre Stevenson to set up his precise 28-yard TD toss to Henry that put the Patriots in front 16-3.
The Chargers picked up back-to-back first downs to open their ensuing drive. But when Herbert dropped back to pass on the next play, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on loose ball.
Los Angeles had one final possession, but it ended with Herbert getting sacked by Williams on fourth down.
“It’s playoff football. It’s going to get ugly. It’s going to get nasty. But you’ve got to keep going,” Williams said.
The opening quarter had lots of action, but it took until early in the second quarter for the Patriots to end a scoreless stalemate.
With New England pinned inside its own 10 after a Chargers punt, Maye had a pass intended for Austin Hooper tipped by Teair Tart and intercepted by Daiyan Henley.
Los Angeles started with the ball on the Patriots 10 but was stopped on fourth-and-2 when Herbert misfired a pass to Keenan Allen.
The Patriots took over and got some breathing room via a 48-yard catch-and-run by Stevenson.
Thirteen plays and a fourth-down conversion later, the drive ended with Borregales' 23-yard field goal.
Patriots: CB Carlton Davis left in the first half with a toe injury but returned. ... CB Christian Gonzalez left in the second half with a head injury.
Chargers: End of season.
Patriots: Host either Houston or Pittsburgh next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New England Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss celebrates after recovering a fumble by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, left, catches a pass next to Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) and carries it in for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
New England Patriots defensive end Milton Williams (97), linebacker Christian Elliss (53) and linebacker Robert Spillane (14) celebrate Williams' sack of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, left, avoids a tackle by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the New England Patriots, in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) celebrates a tackle in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings, rear, in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) avoids a tackle by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
